CM announces to divide Malakand into 2 divisions

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday announced to divide Malakand Division into two separate administrative divisions and urged the elected public representatives to mutually consult and finalize the modalities.

This, he announced while chairing a consultative session on the upcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP) for Malakand Division, said a handout. Elected members of the National and provincial assemblies from Malakand Division and other officials concerned attended the meeting. The chief minister stated that Malakand was a vast and mountainous area, and for the convenience of the people, it was necessary to divide it into two divisions. “Smaller administrative units will enhance service delivery and improve governance,” he remarked.

The elected public representatives of Malakand Division welcomed the chief minister’s announcement, stating that the division of Malakand into two separate divisions was a longstanding demand of the local population and a pressing need of the time. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the chief minister for this decision.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of the current Annual Development Programme for Malakand Division.Earlier, the chief minister also chaired a meeting related to the development programmes of the Departments of Forests & Environment, Minerals, Law & Justice, Transport, and Labour. Relevant cabinet members, the chief secretary, the additional chief secretary (P&D), and other officials attended the meeting.

The progress of schemes under the ongoing development programme was reviewed, and proposed schemes for inclusion in the next ADP were discussed in the meeting. The chief minister directed that schemes nearing completion and flagship projects should be completed on time. He noted that schemes with 80 percent or more physical progress are being fully funded.

Detailed discussions were held on proposed projects for the upcoming ADP, and instructions were issued to finalize them.The chief minister directed that realistic and viable development schemes be included in the new ADP, emphasizing that departments should prioritize major public-interest projects over minor initiatives.

He stressed the need for swift implementation of the Billion Tree Plus Programme, terming it a flagship initiative of the provincial government.The chief minister directed that the implementation of the programme should begin at the very start of the new fiscal year. “We are investing substantial resources to enhance the forest cover of the province; therefore, no delay in the execution of this project will be tolerated,” he added.

Furthermore, he instructed practical steps to harness the potential of carbon credits in the province.He agreed to include solar tube well projects in the next ADP to support afforestation and instructed that feasibility studies for these projects be conducted in the first phase.

The meeting considered projects for the value chain development of local honeybees and the establishment of herbal markets across the province.The meeting gave the go-ahead to include a project in the next ADP for the establishment of a safari park at Misri Banda, Nowshera. The chief minister directed that appropriate funds be allocated for the execution of this project.